Wednesday, January 29, 2020

😎🐫🎤 Christ’s peace be with you.  2 Kings 4: 1-7 shares with us a story of trust. 

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”  Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”  Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”  She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.  When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.  She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

We’re kind of catching this story in midstream, so we don’t really know what all this widow and her sons have tried to keep themselves afloat before she cried out to the man of God.  Maybe he was her first thought, or maybe he was her last resort.  Either way, she opened herself to his words, then she and her sons without question did as they were instructed.  First, they sought the assistance of those around them, family, friends, neighbors.  Having a strong community of believers that we can turn to in our times of need is extremely vital.  Second, the boys gathered all the empty jars their community had to offer and presented them to their mother.  Third, the widow allowed the oil to flow until there were no more jars to fill.  As a reward for her trust and obedience, their debt was paid in full, plus additional money to live on.  I can’t help but think if we would empty ourselves and come to the Lord with the support of our community of believers and prayer warriors, how He will fill us to overflow with all we will ever need in this life, plus that which will help fill other’s vessels.  But first we need to trust Him with ALL of our empty vessel.  Our entire being and all the different aspects of our lives.  How can you possibly overflow with Him if you aren’t bringing your family vessel to be filled?  Maybe you brought your family vessel, but left your work vessel at work.  So maybe both of those were filled, but you didn’t trust the Lord to fill your finance, friendship, faith, or action vessels.  Can you see how until you trust the Lord and present Him all of your vessels, you will always walk away feeling empty?  Like the widow’s small jar of oil, the Lord’s grace, peace, forgiveness, presence, gifts, and glory will only stop flowing when we stop presenting our emptiness to Him to be filled.  It’s hard to receive something if you don’t have anything to receive it into.  Present your entire self as an empty vessel for our Lord to rest within.  Allow yourself to be overwhelmed and overflowing with Him.  Bless others and be blessed.    

#HillsongUnited – New Wine